Domaine Zind-Humbrecht, “Zind”, Alsace, France 2005

What’s in the bottle? The wine has a star bright and deep golden hue to it. The bouquet offers ripe orchard and stone fruits like red apples, peaches and apricots. Some culinary tones of canned corn, honeysuckle, and candied orange peel with a huge floral component of acacia flowers, white lilies, and apple blossoms. The wine tastes a bit off-dry (very slightly sweet). It is medium bodied with elevated levels of acidity and alcohol. The 2005 vintage was a hot one so this resulted in very ripe fruit which created more residual sugar, alcohol and body in the wine. It has a persistent finish that lasts about 15 seconds that is high in complexity. 35% Auxerrois and 65% Chardonnay.

Knowledge: Alsace sits on the border of France and Germany and has one of the greatest cuisines in the world. They benefit from the culinary influence of both countries and produce some of the world’s best Chefs (I know because my Great-Grandmother was French Alsacian and that women could COOK). Alsace is known for their highly aromatic white wines made from Riesling, Gewurtztraminer, Muscat and Pinot Gris.

Service: Serve in a tapered white wine glass at about 49⁰F.

What to eat? Poached or steamed mild white flakey fish with a simple white wine lemon sauce and some fresh herbs like chives or parsley.

Retail Price: $29.99

Found it @:

Marquis Wines and Spirits
29 Birch Hill Road
Locust Valley, NY 11560
(516)671-1578

For the Geeks like Me: This amazing fruit is sourced from the famous Clos Windsbuhl vineyard from 23 year old vines. They are planted on Muschelkalk calcareous soil (Jurassic Era) which is what combines to make such a highly complex wine. We know that the Alsatians can label Pinot Blanc as Auxerrois, so whether this is truly Auxerrois or Pinot Blanc is anybodies guess.